Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced in a statement that he is suspending his gubernatorial campaign Friday.
In a post to X Friday afternoon, Cox stated his departure from the race and reflected on his decades of public service, writing that serving Michiganders has been the most meaningful part of his career.
“Today I leave the race for Governor with great sadness because I never found a better experience than serving the people of Michigan as I did for 21 years as a prosecutor and Attorney General (and before that, as a Marine),” Cox wrote. “While I achieved much greater material rewards outside of public service, those material rewards can never equal the joy and sense of purpose I felt serving the working men and women of Michigan in public office.”
Cox is the second Republican candidate to drop out of the race following President Donald Trump’s endorsement of U.S. Rep. John James, R-Mich., in April. Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt suspended his campaign immediately following Trump’s endorsement.
Cox wrote Trump’s endorsement played a key role in his decision, stating his support for James and other Republican candidates on the ballot in November.
“As President Trump has endorsed John James and ordained his primary victory, I will do whatever I can to help John James, Tony Forlini, and Doug Lloyd win in November,” Cox wrote. “We need them and the whole Republican team to win and roll back the last 8 years of despair, distress, and decline and return Michigan to greatness. The stakes are simply too high.”
Cox’s departure creates a close race for the Republican nomination between James and businessman Perry Johnson. In an Instagram post, James thanked Cox for his support and called for party unity ahead of the Aug. 4 primary.
“Thank you to Mike Cox for helping to give me my start in 2017,” James wrote. “It makes your endorsement today mean so much more. This is exactly the kind of unity we need to win in November. President Trump has endorsed me, and other former primary opponents Tom Leonard and Aric Nesbitt have united behind us.”
In a post on X, Johnson praised Cox’s efforts and encouraged his supporters who opposed James to join his campaign.
“Mike Cox ran a great race doing a very effective job demonstrating why John James should never be the governor of Michigan and would be defeated by Jocelyn Benson,” Johnson wrote. “I am sad to see Mike leave the race, but this is a fantastic opportunity to unite voters who do not want to see John James as our nominee! All supporters of Mike Cox are very welcome on our campaign!”
Daily News Editor Gia Verma can be reached at giaverma@umich.edu
